Here’s Why You Can Get Paid Too Much

It can be hard to leave a well paying job.Camerique Archive Getty Images

Overpaid employees are in a sense, prisoners.

That’s according to a survey titled “Actively Disengaged and Staying” from consulting firm Aon Hewitt, which polled some 500,000 workers.

Their fat paychecks keep them shackled to their jobs, with no motivation to leave. While that’s great for employees who love their jobs, its also one reason why people who hate their jobs stay in their positions, despite an improving labor market.

That’s contributed to some 8% of global workers with no interest in their jobs, and with no motivation to quit, according to Aon.

About 60% of these “prisoners” make above-market wage, compared with 48% for the rest of the working population. In fact, these unmotivated individuals who hate their jobs may be more likely to stay with their company than the average employee, according to Aon.

“These employees may be interested in leaving, but they do not look for opportunities elsewhere because they have done the research and have found that they are being paid more than they are worth in the open market,” the study stated. “As a result, they sit tight.”

The longer these overpaid and unsatisfied employees stay with the company however, the less likely they are to leave, because these workers feel as if they been through thick and thin with the firm.

Around 17.1% of employees who have been with their company for over 26 years, but hate their job, have no intention of quitting, compared to roughly 5% of those who have been with their company between 6 months to a year.